Netflix (NFLX.O), which is scheduled to report results after the market close on Monday, rose 0.9 percent in premarket trading.

Analysts estimate second-quarter earnings for the S&P 500 companies rose 8.1 percent from a year earlier. First-quarter earnings posted their best performance since 2011, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Earnings will be closely watched to see if high valuations are justified in the face of tepid inflation and a recent patch of mixed economic data.

The S&P 500 has been trading at about 18 times earnings estimates for the next 12 months, compared with the long-term average of 15 times.

The Dow and the S&P hit record highs on Friday after weak economic data dulled prospects of more interest rate hikes this year.

Last week, investor sentiment got a boost after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said future rate hikes could be gradual in the face of persistently low inflation. The Fed will meet next on July 25-26.

TOKYO, Aug 31 - Toshiba Corp is unlikely to seal a long-awaited $17. 3 billion deal to sell its memory chip unit by its self-imposed deadline of Aug 31, as a last-minute offer on Wednesday left executives comparing rival offers with hours to go.
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* Graphic of LNG demand by region: reut. rs/2uGUu9X By Clyde Russell LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 12 - Exxon Mobils deal to cut the price of liquefied natural gas supplied under long-term contract to an Indian buyer has largely been viewed as a bad outcome for producers of the super-chilled fuel.
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UK budget airline EasyJet is to let customers use its website to book long-haul flights with other carriers. It says it is the first global airline connections service by a European low fares carrier.
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